Desk plate for automobiles



June 8, 1954 F. BERMAN DESK PLATE FOR AUTOMOBILES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 17, 1952 INVENTOR. FRANK BERMAN June 8, 1954 F. BERMAN 2,680,325

DESK PLATE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed May 17, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FRANK BERMAN f 5'? INVENTOR.

Patented June 8, 1954 DESK PLATE FOR AUTOMOBILES Frank Berman, Fair Lawn, N. J.

Application May 17, 1952, Serial No. 288,526

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and useful accessory for automotive vehicles and more particularly to a device for transforming the steering wheel of an automotive vehicle into a writing desk.

It has been found that persons utilizing a motor vehicle in the daily performance of their profession, for example, salesmen and deliverymen, are required to do considerable writing and for reading while at the wheel of their vehicle.

The principal object of the invention therefore is the provision. of means for transforming the steering wheel of a motor vehicle into a writing desk.

Another object of the invention is to include in said means devices for securing a sheet or pad of paper in position for the same to be written on, a lamp for illuminating the surface of said paper when desired, and storage space for writing implements and the like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for the mounting of said means on various types of steering wheels.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the fOllOWillg description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth- On the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the means of Fig. 11 is an elevational view of a modification of the means shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a perspective View of means for mounting the device of Fig. 1 on the spokes of a steering wheel.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrates a modified construction.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, the reference numeral i5 designates the steering column of an automotive vehicle, the numeral l6 designates a steering wheel secured to the head of said column and the numeral designates a horn ring secured to the horn at the head of the column by spokes IS. The means for transforming the steering wheel into a writing desk comprise a circular plate 20 which may be of clear plastic material and which has a turned down peripheral flange 2| which serves as a stiffener and also to secure the plate atop horn ring H. For this purpose the lower end of flange 2| is turned in armately as shown at 22 in Fig. 4 to embrace the underside of the horn ring. A second flange 23 concentric with flange 2| and located therewithin has an out-turned arcuate lower portion 24 situated above the portion 22 of flange 2| and embracing the upper face of horn ring IT. The space between the flange portions 22 and 24 preferably is such as to provide a tight fit of the two the invention as applied to a steering wheel having a horn ring mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device of Fig. 1

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective sectional view of a portion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrates a modified construction.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of th means shown in section in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective view of means shown also in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view which illustrates means for attaching the device of Fig. 1 to a steering wheel having no horn ring.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view on line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9.

about the horn ring. Flange 23 may be integral with plate 20 or separately formed and secured thereto by cementin or the like as shown in the drawing. In order to facilitate the engagement of horn ring l1, inner flange 23 is slit vertically at intervals as indicated at 25. In order to accommodate the spokes of horn ring I! cutouts 26 may be provided in both flanges.

As shown in Fig. 5 wherein like parts are given the same reference numerals as above with a prime added. The construction may be modified to have the flange portion 22' grip the upper face of the horn ring and the flange portion 24' grip the lower face of the ring.

In order to secure a sheet or a pad of paper atop plate 2| for the purpose of writing thereon a pair of clips 21 are formed flush with the plate. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 each said clip comprises a rectangular plate 28 oiiset at its center so that one end thereof underlies face plate 20 while the other end lies flush with said plate and rests on a depressed portion 30 thereof. Of course, an opening is provided in plate 213 to accommodate the clip plate 28. Plate 25 is provided at either end of the offset thereof with an ear 3| which cooperates with an car 32 integral with or suitably secured to the plate 2B. Pivot pins 33 extending between the ears 3| and 32 serve to pivotally support the plate 28 which is held in the full line, paper securing position shown in Fig. 2 by a spring 35. As shown, spring 34 is mounted on a pin 35 which passes through plate 28 and is suitably secured to plate 20, and acts between a head on said pin and the underside of plate 28. A second pin 29 secured to plate 28 and projecting through plate 2:: permitsthe .plate 28 being raised to the dot dash'position of Fig. 2 to slip a'sheet of paper therebeneath.

In order to provide a shelf like support for articles which it is not desired to secure-:in-plaoe by means of the clips 2i, a rectangular opening in plate 26 located opposite the said clips,*'has -a pivoted cover piece 38 which, whenintitsopen position serves as a shelf. Conveniently, a compartment 32 for pencils and the like maybelocated beneath cover piece 35. At ither end, coverpiece 35 is provided with anearififl through which a pivot pin 33 xtends intothe adjacent wallof compartment 3?. .In order to maintain :cover piece 36 in any desired open positionior use as a shelf, one of the cars 38 is enlarged and :provided with ratchet'teeth 4B which cooperate with a detent spring 61 suitably secured to the rfioor of compartment 31.

In order to facilitate the use of plate 29 for .writing and reading purposes when the same is indarkness or a dim light, means are provided to illuminate the surface thereof. The said .means include a circular opening in plate 28 between the clips .2? and an open end cylinder 32 secured to the underside of plate 29 in align- .ment with the opening, see Figs. 1,6 and 7. Cylinder iZ-is constructed-mainly of plastic or other electrically insulative inaterialbut on opposite sides is provided with conductive .inserts 53 wh-ich'are connected by-wires A4 to a suitable source of electrical energy, say the battery of the auto vehicle. Slidablyinounted in cylinder &2 is an opaque cylinder 45 of non-conductive material having near its upper enda window 46 through which light from a small electric lamp ii-suitably mounted within the cylinder projects.

Preferably the mounting for lamp- 41 is of standard design, but has the wiresfiB extending therefrom electrically connected to conductive inserts in the wall ofcylinder 45. In order to prevent thecylinder 35 from being pulled .up out =01 oylinder iz the former is provided withextensions at its lower end.

Normally cylinder 45 is in .thelower-position shown in Fig. 6 and lamp 4'? 'is extinguished. However, when cylinder 55 is pulledupward the conductive inserts 5% come into contact with the inserts .43 and lamp it is lighted and illuminates the surface ofplate 20.

.It is evident thereforethat the meansof the invention are readily applicable to the-steering wheel of an autovehicle to transform .the latter into a writing desk.

in some instancesthe steering wheelsof auto vehicles are not provided with horn rings as described above. l'n order to enable the mounting of plate 2t and its appurtenances on such steering wheels, the devices shown in Figs. 9 to .l2.are provided. Referring first to Figs. 9 and there is illustrated a steering wheellfi' having no horn ring. To perform the function of the horn ring in supporting plate 23 and its appurtenances there is provided a ring -52 .of plastic or-other -material having the form shown for :engagezmentxbetween .the gripping :portions' 22 :andfidnf of a steering wheel having no horn ring. illustrated an arcuate strip 57 is secured to each .spoke58 of-a-steering wheel by a strap Edwhich surrounds the spoke and is pinned to said-strip 4 the flanges 2i and 23 of plate 20 shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Formed integrally with ring 52 but offset therebelow are a pair of diametrally opposed tails 53 which at their ends are secured to th rim of steering wheel 16. Preferably, the means for securing the tails 53 to the steering wheel each include a strap 54 surrounding the rim of the wheel and formed at either end of the said strap a threaded semi-cone 55. As shown the semi-cones 55 embrace a tail 53 and are se- "cured thereto by a ring 56 threadedonto the cones. It is believed evident that ring 52 serves the same manner as the horn ring described :above.

Referring now to Fig. 11, there is disclosed a half-ring 52' having a single tail 53'. If desired this-maybeutilized in the same manner as the ring52 just above described.

In Fig. 12 there is shown means for mounting the plate 2!! and its appurtenances on the spokes As at the center thereof.

Strapid is secured to spoke 53 in the same .manner asthestrap- 5 described above and like parts are given thesame reference numeralsas in Figs. 9 and 10 with primes added. Secured .12 "secured to-each spoke of a steering whel effectively support the-ring 2G and its appurtenances.

Referring now to Fig. 13 there is disclosed 'rneans .for adapting the device of the invention .to steering wheels wherein the steering-column interferes with the placement of a-plate zll. In thisfigure like parts are given the same reference .numerals as in Fig. 2 with primes added. As

shown the plate 23 is provided witha large cen- .tr-alopnining 6! to accommodate the projecting steeringcQlumn and also with a peripheral lip.62 .beneathwhich the edge of an inverted saucer like plate-t3 can .be snapped. Obviously plate 53 pro .ferredembodiments of my invention, it is tobe understood that I do not limitrnyself tothe pre- .oiseconstructions hereindisclosed and the. right .is. reserved toall changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what .I

.olainrasnew and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

.LMeans .for transforming an auto vehicle steering wheel having a horn rin into a writing .desk comprising a circular plate, a peripheral "flange extending downward from said plate and having an arcuate laterally extending lower portion'embracing the underside of the saidring,

a second flange concentric with the first but 10'- cated therewithin and having an arcuate latera shelf normally flush with said plate. but adjustable to support articles on the plate means for securing said shelf in adjusted position, and a compartment beneath said plate covered by said shelf When the same is flush with the plate.

2. Means for transforming an auto vehicle steering wheel ring into a writing desk comprising, a circular plate, a peripheral flange extending downward frem said plate and having an arcuate laterally extending section embracing one side of said ring, and a second flange concentric with the first but located therewithin and having an arcuate laterally extending section embracing the other side of said ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Number Name Date Bragg et a1 June 18, 1929 Gray Oct. 18, 1932 Cardarelli Jan. 3, 1933 Edwards Oct. 16, 1934 Bake Mar. 14, 1939 Dobbs Aug. 8, 1950 

